FAQs
- Do you have group rates?
- Can I jump with my friends?
- Do I have to make a reservation to go skydiving? How far in advance?
- What do I wear?
- What will the skydive feel like?
- How will I feel when the parachute opens?
- How long does the skydive last?
- Is it okay to tip my jumpmaster?
- Isn’t the landing like jumping off a 2 story building?
- Will I be scared?
- What kind of parachute will we use?
- What happens if the parachute doesn’t open?
- Can my friends sit through class with me?
- What time will I jump, so my friends can watch?
- May I bring my dog?
- I am a little overweight, is that a problem?
- Can I get pictures of my Skydive?
- Should I give advance warning if I want Video & Stills?
- What type of Video can I expect?
- How long before I receive my video or pictures?
- What kind of Still Photos can I expect?
- Can I take my own camera with me?
- Can the camera person film more than one person?
- What if the weather forecast is bad?
- Is my personal and credit card information safe?
- Can I get a refund?
Do you have group rates?
Yes! Groups of 10 or more receive a $20 discount for each person!. We specialize in groups – we have large (up to 23 jumpers), fast, modern aircraft to take your group to jump altitude, and there is a great viewing area with picnic tables and shade tents where you and your friends can gather. Please note – alcohol is not allowed. Additionally, we request that all dogs be left at home where they will be much more comfortable.
Can I jump with my friends?
Yes! Sharing the experience with your friends and family is fantastic. We regularly accomodate groups of all sizes. Groups of three or four are usually no problem. With advance notice, we have even put groups of NINE tandems on one plane!. Give us a call and we can help you set up a group program that fits your needs.
Do I have to make a reservation to go skydiving? How far in advance?
We take walk-ins for a tandem every day we are skydiving, on a space and instructor available basis. We can usually fit people into one of the many tandem skydiving classes we offer each day. But, if you have a special day in mind or you don’t want to risk a possible wait or disappointment, we suggest making a reservation. For groups who want to receive the group discount, it is required.
How far in advance? We suggest you give us a call to check availability when you are thinking about it, even if it’s the same day! The best example we can give you is that of a popular restaurant – the night you just show up with 6 of your friends, you can’t get a table because everyone else is already there – the next night, you are able to just walk-in. The same thing can happen with skydiving, so if you have a special day in mind – call early for best availability. If you are reading this and thinking I want to skydive today — give us a call and we just might be able to make that happen, too!
What do I wear?
Wear comfortable clothing and athletic shoes (NO open toed shoes). On warm sunny days you may choose to jump in shorts and a t-shirt. On cooler days jeans and a long sleeved shirt or sweatshirt may be appropriate. No bare feet or sandals are allowed.
What will the skydive feel like?
The sensation of freefall is more like flying than falling, and the parachute flight is quiet and inspiring.
How will I feel when the parachute opens?
You will definitely know something is happening, but few people have complained about any discomfort.
How long does the skydive last?
Our turbine aircraft take you to an exit altitude of 13,000 feet which means your freefall will last approximately one minute and the parachute flight will be from 5 to 7 minutes.
Is it okay to tip my jumpmaster?
Certainly. While it is not expected, your jumpmaster or instructor appreciate your expressions of gratitude.
Isn’t the landing like jumping off a 2 story building?
No! If that were the case, there would be no skydiving because everyone would have broken legs! In the early days of sport parachuting, landings were sometimes quite hard. The new ram-air parachutes of today allow landings that feel equivalent to hopping off a step 1-2 feet high.
Will I be scared?
Maybe, and maybe not. You will definitely feel a surge of excitement and anticipation before the jump – this is a normal part of the experience. During the jump itself, you’ll probably feel a thrill such as you’ve never experienced – enjoy it!
What kind of parachute will we use?
The parachutes used are specifically designed, large “ram-airs”. A ram-air is a high technology “square” parachute, as opposed to the old style round parachutes.
What happens if the parachute doesn’t open?
In the very unlikely event that the main parachute doesn’t open properly, there is a reserve parachute which is inspected and packed by a licensed FAA parachute rigger. All of our reserve parachutes are equipped with the most reliable and modern AAD’s (Automatic Activation Device) available, the CYPRES. Skydive San Diego, Inc. utilizes this system for your enhanced safety. This is a BACK-UP system only.
Can my friends sit through class with me?
That is not possible. Due to regulations & space limitations, only student jumpers are allowed in the training facility. We do however, have a nice spectator picnic area with tables where they can wait for you. Please note – Alcohol is not allowed.
What time will I jump, so my friends can watch?
If you are making a Tandem Skydive, jumps usually begin between 1 and 3 hours after your scheduled class time. The first hour of your day is spent on training and paperwork, so if your friends want to show up a bit later, that is okay. Once your class is trained, we assign groups to aircraft loads. Classes have 1 – 12 people and are comprised of various groups and individual students, so there will likely be more than one airplane flight and not everyone will be on the first load. We suggest you plan 2 – 3 hours for weekday tandem jumps and 3 – 4 hours on weekends.
If you are making a Solo Skydive, it is generally safe to tell your friends to show up approximately 4 to 5 hours after your scheduled class time to watch you jump. You will spend the first half-hour of your day on paperwork and check in and follow that with 3 – 4 hours of ground school. Once your training is completed, you will meet with your jump masters and we will manifest you on an aircraft load. The solo class holds up to 8 students and we generally limit the number of solo students per aircraft to 1 or 2, so solo student jumps will be spread out over the afternoon. Please plan on a full day for your solo jump.
Special note, the times listed above are estimates, things can go faster or slower, due to weather, equipment or instructor availability, aircraft or special requests. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
May I bring my dog?
Unfortunately, no. We love dogs too, but for many reasons dogs are not allowed on the airport property at any time. Please remind your spectator friends.
I am a little overweight, is that a problem?
Most people who have an active lifestyle can go skydiving. There is a weight limit of 230 lbs, height / weight proportionate, to make a solo or tandem skydive. Please contact us directly if you have any questions regarding weight requirements.
Can I get pictures of my Skydive?
Yes! You can get a series of 25-50 digital still photos that will be uploaded and available for you to view and share with your friends and social media.
Should I give advance warning if I want Video & Stills?
Yes! The more advance warning the better.
What type of Video can I expect?
The Basic Video Package provides about 2 minutes of footage, while the Deluxe Video Package gives you about 4-5 minutes of footage, and edited with music. We expect to film you at various times from when you leave the classroom to after your landing. However, because of the number of variables the only part that we guarantee is the freefall phase. Bonus footage may include climbing into the aircraft, takeoff, the climb to altitude, exit, under canopy and landing.
How long before I receive my video or pictures?
Your pictures will be uploaded minutes after you land, and you should receive an email notification with a link to your gallery within the hour. Because of the amount of time we put into the production of the video, it will uploaded and available for viewing, sharing, and downloading with 2-3 days.
What kind of Still Pictures can I expect?
Your pictures will be uploaded at full-resolution, and you can share them on social media, or download them to your own computer, which allows you the freedom of enlargements and having multiple copies made for a variety of applications.
Can I take my own camera with me?
No. You are too busy with your skydive to look after your cameras. It may very easily get lost or broken and we can not risk dropping it in freefall or under parachute. In addition, the USPA limits cameras to be worn or carried by licensed jumpers with at least 200 skydives.
Can the camera person film more than one person?
No. The instructor and cameraflyer are dedicated to you, which means that they will be exiting the airplane and skydiving with you and your instructor filming your entire jump. Due to the amount of time and the distance between each exit, the camerflyer can only film one student in freefall. We can take a ground shot or two of your group, if you let us know at the time of your jump.
What if the weather forecast is bad?
Neither we, nor the weatherman, are 100% accurate at predicting the weather – even here in California! Please show up for your scheduled appointment, and a decision can be made at that time. If for some reason we need to cancel, we’ll give you a call.
Is my personal and credit card information safe?
Skydive San Diego takes your privacy seriously. Rest assured we never share, sell or distribute any personal information you give us while visiting or making a purchase from SkydiveSanDiego.com. Providing a secure, satisfying and private experience for our customers is a top priority.
Can I get a refund?
All products, services and packages offered at full price on SkydiveSanDiego.com are 100% refundable. We are unable to provide refunds on any discounted or reduced products, services and packages.
